'Moray Lectures' launched by local MP
Posted on Friday, March 14 2008
The launch of a high profile lecture series in Moray has been announced bylocal MP Angus Robertson, the Westminster SNP leader.The 'Moray Lectures' which are set to be held on a quarterly basis willbring leading commentators from home and abroad to Moray to address publicaudiences on wide ranging subjects.Mr Robertson announced that the first lecture will be given by the GermanAmbassador to the UK Wolfgang Ischinger on Monday 21st April 2008.Mr Ischinger recently served as a high profile EU-Representative dealingwith Kosovo and is one of Germany's most respected diplomats. He willaddress the subject of "Modern Germany in a changing continent".The inaugural 'Moray Lecture' will be held in Gordonstoun School andtickets are available free of charge from the Moray Parliamentary Office.Future lectures will be held throughout Moray.Speaking about the launch of the 'Moray Lectures' Angus Robertson said:"Moray offers an excellent platform for speakers with important things tosay. I am certain that there will be a big interest in attending thelectures which have been established with the public in mind."In this fast changing times it is sometimes difficult to hear consideredopinions about the world in which we live. I look forward to hearing anexciting series of speakers with differing perspectives in Moray."Ambassador Ischinger is one of Europe's most respected diplomats and weare honoured that he will give the inaugural 'Moray Lecture'."Moray's international credentials were recently underlined with the SouthCaucasus peace talks in Craigellachie and it is an excellent sign that theinternational perspective will continue with the Moray Lectures"Following his acceptance to speak in Moray, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischingersaid:"I am delighted to be able to give the first of the "Moray Lectures"."There are considerable connections between Moray and Germany withimportant trade and tourism links, twinning arrangements and personalassociations."Much about modern Germany is little reported in Scotland and elsewhere inthe UK.The lecture by Ambassador Ischinger will be held in Gordonstoun House,Gordonstoun School, Duffus after the kind offer of assistance byHeadmaster Mark Pyper:"I am delighted to support the establishment of the 'Moray Lectures' byhosting the address by Ambassador Ischinger."His talk will attract people from throughout Moray to Gordonstoun School,which was established by German educationalist Kurt Hahn."In an age of globalisation it is crucial to learn about developments inother countries and the Ambassador is one of the most respectedcommentators we could hope for."As a part of the local community we are pleased to be able to offer aplatform for what should become an exciting series of lectures heldthroughout Moray.Background for Editors:The inaugural address in the 'Moray Lectures' series will be given byAmbassador Wolfgang Ischinger at Gordonstoun School, Duffus on Monday 21stApril 2008.Doors open at 1900 and the 45 minute lecture will start at 1930. Parkingwill be available at the school.Two free lecture tickets are available per applicant on a first come firstserved basis by writing to 'The Moray Lectures', Moray ParliamentaryOffice, 9 Wards Road, Elgin, IV32 7LT or emailing robertsona@parliament.ukBiographical information on Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger:Wolfgang Ischinger is the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany tothe Court of St. James.Since early August 2007, he has also represented the European Union in theTroika negotiations on Kosovo.Mr. Ischinger was born in 1946 near Stuttgart in southern Germany. Hejoined the German Foreign Service in 1975 with a German law degree and aMaster's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.He worked at the UN Secretariat in New York and was later posted toWashington, D.C. and to Paris. In Bonn, he served as Private Secretary toForeign Minister Genscher. From 1993 to 1998, Ambassador Ischinger servedin various senior positions in the Foreign Ministry, where he led Germandelegations to a number of international negotiating processes, includingthe Bosnia Peace Talks at Dayton, Ohio, the negotiations concerning theNATO-Russia Founding Act, as well as the negotiations on NATO and EUenlargement, and on the Kosovo crisis.From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Ischinger was State Secretary (Deputy ForeignMinister) in the German Foreign Office. From 2001 to 2006, he served asGermany's Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington, D.C.He moved to his current post in London in March 2006.Mr. Ischinger has published widely on foreign policy, security and armscontrol policy as well as on European and transatlantic issues.He serves on several non-profit boards, including the Board of Overseersof the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the East-West Institute inNew York, the Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft, Frankfurt, the Council onPublic Policy, and AFS Germany (American Field Service).Ambassador Ischinger is married and has three children. His hobbiesinclude mountain climbing and skiing.ENDS
MORAY PARLIAMENTARIANS URGE FURTHER WORK TO PROTECT BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS
Posted on Friday, March 14 2008
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has urged the UK Government to heed the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on oil and gas exploration activities in the inner Moray Firth.Concerns have been expressed about the potential impact of such exploration activity on the dolphins that are a favourite feature in the Moray Firth with a very strong campaign to protect their habitat. In a letter to John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Mr Lochhead said no decision should be taken until the concerns raised by SNH on the possible impact on the local bottlenose dolphin population have been addressed.Moray MP Angus Robertson has also been encouraging constituents with concerns to make their views known to the Minister before a decision is taken by the Westminster Government. Speaking after SNH submitted their formal response to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform consultation on the issue, Mr Lochhead said:" I appreciate that oil and gas exploration and exploitation is critically important to the Scottish and UK economies, but this needs to be balanced with our environmental responsibilities." We must be satisfied that there will be no adverse effect on the integrity of the special area of conservation in the Moray Firth and its local bottlenose dolphin population. This is a protected area for these dolphins and a spot that is popular for environmental tourism." I strongly support the recommendations for further work made by Scottish Natural Heritage and would urge the UK Government to address them before making a final decision on oil and gas activities in the inner Moray Firth."Local MP Angus Robertson said: " It is essential that when decisions on oil exploration are taken by the Westminster Government that the fill impact on the Moray Firth marine habitat is known. To make the decision without that information would be irresponsible and the position taken by the Scottish Government to press the Minister on this issue is absolutely correct. " Many constituents have expressed their concerns to me and the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society have been very vocal in their campaign. " The dolphins of the Moray Firth are entitled to have their habitat protected and that assurance has to be given by the UK government. Ends.
BUDGET NOT A WINNER FOR MORAY
Posted on Wednesday, March 12 2008
"Chancellor is no darling of Moray" - Angus Robertson MP Moray's Westminster Member of Parliament Angus Robertson has described today's [Wednesday's] budget as a tax on rural Scotland. The chancellor has maintained fuel taxation at current high rates which the local MP says discriminates against those in areas like Moray who rely on road transport to get around. On alcohol taxation there is still a significant extra burden against whisky producers, one of Moray's key employers, while the types of alcohol contributing to the problems caused by a binge drinking culture remain lower. On energy the SNP MP has described the measures announced by the Chancellor as a sticking plaster over a gaping wound. Commenting on fuel taxation Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson said: " The SNP has been very vocal in our demands for a fuel duty regulator which would reduce fuel duty by the increased VAT taken by the Treasury as the barrel price of oil increases. In contrast the Chancellor has simply postponed a 2p per litre increase for a few months so all we can look forward to is a further jump in taxation later this year. " Not only does fuel duty unfairly discriminate against those in Moray who have limited access to public transport compared to those in more urban areas, but it also keeps costs high for hauliers exporting Moray's goods and bringing in essential supplies to the region. Additionally an increasing tax on fuel impacts on bus fares and the cost to emergency services and public authorities in delivering core services in Moray and elsewhere. " What is particularly galling is that because VAT is applied to the combined cost of fuel and the duty added to it the Treasury gets a massive amount in back door taxation as the price of oil rises. Fuel has risen by more than 10p a litre in the last year alone and that increase generates an incredible half a billion pounds in additional taxation for the Chancellor to spend at the expense of hard-working and hard-pressed families and individuals. On alcohol taxation Mr Robertson said: " A 55p increase in whisky taxation is an absolute travesty. The whisky sector is not only a major contributor in Moray's economy but also one of Scotland's key industries both in export, earnings and employment terms, and it is unacceptable that whisky continues to be taxed more highly than any other alcoholic drink." Whisky production supports and sustains many fragile rural economies and acts as an emblem for Scotland the world over. Despite all this the industry does not receive fair tax treatment, and the Chancellor has missed his chance to end this punitive treatment. " Binge drinking is by and large not caused by the consumption of speyside malts and is much more affected by high strength beers and ciders. I have never seen anti-social behaviour from people with a bottle of Glenlivet in their hand. Today's decisions do nothing to either support the whisky industry or to tackle binge drinking."On energy issues the SNP MP said: " The Chancellor attempted to dupe the public by announcing that energy companies should invest more in social tariffs but this is simply a sticking plaster over a gaping wound and a £50 increase in winter fuel allowance, while welcome, does not remotely cover the additional costs of energy being faced by our hard-pressed pensioners. " The number of people in fuel poverty is steadily increasing and in areas like Moray where there is significant reliance on oil fired heating systems the situation is dire for many, many people. The price of heating oil has more than doubled in the last few years and pushed many households budgets to breaking point."
MORAY MP TABLES MOTION ON DRINK DRIVE LIMITS
Posted on Wednesday, March 12 2008
Moray's Westminster Member of Parliament, Angus Robertson, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons seeking support for a reduction in the drink drive limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. The local MP's motion supports the statement made by the Scottish Government Justice Minister Kenny Macaskill MSP that he will be writing to the UK Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly asking her to reduce the drink driving limit and introduce random breath testing to further crack down on drink driving. SNP Highlands & Islands Regional MSP David Thompson has also been seeking support in the Scottish Parliament. Drink driving continues a major contributor to serious and fatal accidents. With dozens of fatal accidents in the North East of Scotland happening every year Moray's Scottish National Party MP believes that a reduction in the drink drive limit would send a strong message to drivers that the only way to be sure that you are not drink driving is simply not to drink before getting behind the wheel. In recent months Grampian Police has regularly reported catching drink drivers in road traffic operations and the numbers being caught remain at concerning levels. Commenting on the motion Angus Robertson MP said: " There are very few people around who do not know someone who has either been killed or seriously injured in a road crash. The causes of such serious incidents are often alcohol related and I am seeking the support of MPs of all parties in calling for the drink drive limit to be reduced. " Drink driving is completely unacceptable behaviour that can result in pain and distress for victims of this crime and their families. " In Moray alone we have seen far too many people die on our roads and if we can prevent the loss of even one life by hammering home the message on drink driving then it is a massive achievement. " The message is simply 'Don't Drink & Drive'" Notes for Editors: The Early Day Motion tabled by Angus Robertson MP reads: That this House recognises the misery and suffering that can frequently result from the actions of drink drivers, condemns the actions of those who engage in this unacceptable behaviour and supports the reduction of the drink drive limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. Ends
LABOUR FAILS MORAY FISHING COMMUNITIES ON EU BILL
Posted on Tuesday, March 11 2008
Today [Tuesday] the Scottish National Party's MPs in Westminster have voted against the European Union Bill that has been debated at length over the last six weeks in the House of Commons. The Bill came about following the Treaty of Lisbon which agreed many major changes to the way in which the UK interacts with European neighbours. Most notably for Moray the Bill included proposals to maintain the control of our fisheries by the European Union. In addition the Bill covered many issues that affect the everyday lives of people in Moray such as climate change actions, including recycling, landfill and energy issues; human rights legislation; farming; trade isssues and many, many more. Moray MP Angus Robertson has argued that while many aspects of the bill are very good the key problems are the continued control of fisheries by Europe through the Common Fisheries Policy, which the SNP has opposed for many years, and the widely publicised issue of whether there should have been a referendum. The SNP was also the first political party in the House of Commons to call for a referendum on the EU constitution, a call which has been backed by voters from across the political spectrum. Speaking about the vote local MP Angus Robertson said: " We have campaigned on two main issues, the first being that of the referendum and the second on fisheries which has a major impact on the future economic prospects for fishing communities in Moray and for the wider Scottish fishing industry. " We have been clear all along that these were two must win issues and with the failure of Labour MPs to support Scotland's fishing industry we could not support the bill as it stood. " As an MP representing several fishing ports I will continue to fight the corner of the industry at every opportunity, despite the refusal of other parties to support our fishing communities on this vital issue. “ Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats made manifesto promises on the crucial issue of a referendum and through this week's vote they have broken those promises. “ The SNP has been committed to a referendum on the constitutional treaty from the very start, and we did not break our word. " Ends.
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